Eubanks Falls in the Quarterfinals of Big Ten Indoor Championships

EAST LANSING, Mich.- Entering the second day of competition at the Big Ten Indoor Singles Championships, Michigan State junior Trey Eubanks found himself in the round of 16. The Spartan captain was able to advance into the final eight portion of the tournamentis main draw, but he could not muster up another win to advance into Mondayis Final Four.

In his first match of the day, the Spartan standout faced Minnesota's Tom Chicoine, who advanced into the round of 16 by defeating the No. 3 seed Gavin Sontag of Illinois. Eubanks started the match slowly and Chicoine seemed as if he could not miss a shot. Sontag would take the first set 6-1, but the Spartan captain would storm back in the second set 7-5 to even the match and force a decisive third set. The third set would see saw back and forth, but the Spartan would prove too strong for the Golden Gopher and Eubanks would take the set and the match 1-6, 7-5, 7-5.

In the quarterfinals, Eubanks met the streaking 14th seed from Northwestern University, Doug Bohaboy. To advance into the round of eight, Bohaboy defeated Ian Arons of Indiana 7-6 (7), 6-3, Eric Meditz of Penn State 6-2, 6-3, and Matt Snyder of Illinois 6-4, 7-6 (3). In the match, Bohaboy seemed to read Eubank's mind on every shot. The Wildcatis third seeded player would break the Michigan State captain to take the first set 6-4. The Spartan standout kept it close with the hometown crowd strongly behind him but he fell in the end 6-4, 7-6 (3).

In other portions of the draw, the Spartans did not fare well. Okemo's native junior Chris Struck entered the back draw portion of the main draw after falling on Saturday to Chris Porter of Ohio State 6-3, 6-3. Struck advanced to the quarterfinals of the back draw with a win over Jeff Malik of Wisconsin 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-2, but he was defeated by Scott Lippitt of Indiana 6-3, 6-4 to end his competition for the weekend. Sophomore Francisco Trinidad also fell in the quarterfinals of the back draw. He lost to interstate rival Jake Raiton of Michigan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Another of Michigan Stateis sophomores Ivica Primorac lost to Eric Meditz of Penn State in the first match of the back draw Sunday morning.

Northwestern University looks to be the early season favorite in the Big Ten after this weekend's performance. The Wildcats placed three players in the final four: Alex Witt, Marc Silva, and Doug Bohaboy. Last year's Big Ten champion, University of Illinois managed to place only Oliver Freelove in the semi-finals.

The Spartanis next action will be Fri.-Sun., Jan. 30-Feb. 1, at the Tennessee Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. Michigan State will return home on Saturday, Feb. 21, to take on Bowling Green at 10 a.m. and Western Michigan at 6 p.m.